Former Vikings special teams captain and linebacker Audie Cole is expected to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, a league source told the Star Tribune.
Cole’s new home marks another departure from the Vikings linebacker corps, which also recently saw the retirement of mainstay Chad Greenway.
The roster currently sits with five linebackers between Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Emmanuel Lamur, Edmond Robinson and Kentrell Brothers. The Vikings will need to add depth, potentially through free agency and the draft, with an opening in the defense.
Head coach Mike Zimmer recently said he believes his current in-house options could take over Greenway’s role, which was roughly 40 percent of snaps at weak-side linebacker in the base defense.